Secrets of 5 a side shape in youth football/soccer

A detailed description of how to get your players to play quality, effective football in a way they can understand. Explaining the important aspects of the diamond formation and explaining how it works.

[@realtalkwithphil]

It’s the “chasing the ball like sheep” for me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
These are some really good points

[@lambertj.2892]

Me too. this would never work for my 6 year old girls.

[@youyoudada2250]

Great content, I was struggling to find the right place for my players, as It is my first year as U9 coach. Now I get it better, and will manage differently. Thanks

[@kachler67]

Good strategy is also if one of the two midfielders is more defensively oriented, while the other one joins the attack. You can shut down counter attacks much better with two defenders.
It’s a dynamic approach, players not involved in attack should always focus on defensive stability, but without being rigid in position. The game lives from movement and creating spaces

[@lukebignell7846]

Weak in the centre. You get killed by strong teams early with this formation

[@footballtraininganddevelop3702]

In my experience it is fine. Defensively you just react to what the opposition do. So you will get compact when you lose it and react to the opponents, to fill central areas if needed. When winning the ball you move to create space providing width and depth. I get your point in terms of defending you have a stronger structure if it was a 2 2 for example however that formation is prone for players herding around the ball, less focus on space creation, it gives the players less time on the ball which makes playing out or link up play harder. I totally get what you are saying every formation has weaknesses but the ability to maximise the space on the pitch and create easy passing angles is why this formation works best for me and IMO the players development into more intelligent players.

[@mattverickgames5575]

Whats the alternative 2-1-1?

[@lukebignell7846]

@@mattverickgames5575Either 1-1-2 or 2-2. You need players always in the centre otherwise you get killed.
If you have an absolute elite set of top 1% players at U7 and U8 then yes you can play the formation shown successfully. But barely any coach has that quality of player.
Most teams that try this diamond get killed.

[@OleKristianFjelltun-Larsen]

I would involve the keeper in the build up. When you pass to the keeper you create a 5vs4. Try to make the other team push at the keeper to create room. If they dont, the keeper should start moving with the ball towards the other goal and at some point the defenders would have to push at the keeper. It is a 2-2+keeper formation.

[@lukebignell7846]

@@OleKristianFjelltun-Larsen Very unlikely at most levels of youth 5v5 to have a keeper who is good enough with their feet to pull this off. Even outfield players would struggle in the GK/sweeper role particularly U7s